Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Geocentric?

\Ge`o*cen"tric\, Geocentrical \Ge`o*cen"tric*al\, a. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + ke`ntron center: cf. F. g['e]ocentrique.] (Astron.) (a) Having reference to the earth as center; in relation to or seen from the earth, -- usually opposed to heliocentric, as seen from the sun; as, the geocentric longitude or latitude of a planet. (b) Having reference to the center of the earth. {Geocentric latitude} (of place) the angle included between the radius of the earth through the place and the plane of the equator, in distinction from geographic latitude. It is a little less than the geographic latitude.
\Ge`o*cen"tric\, Geocentrical \Ge`o*cen"tric*al\, a. ] Having, considering, or based on, the earth as center; as, the geocentric theory of the universe.